Timothy''s eyes darkened; guilt flooded through him as he helped Jessica sit up and quickly fetched her a ss of water so she could rinse her mouth.


    He''d gone too far-he could see now that he''d really hurt her.


    Taking a clean towel, he dampened it, wrung it out, and gently wiped her face, then carefully smoothed her hair so she looked presentable again.


    Finally, his voice raw with regret, he murmured, "We need to go to the hospital."


    He reached out to lift her, but Jessica dodged him, turning away and heading for the bathroom. In the kitchen, she quietly mixed a ss of saltwater and rinsed her mouth out on her own.


    There was no way she''d go to the hospital with Timothy.


    She couldn''t let him find out about the cancer. Last night had made it painfully clear-even after everything that happened, he had no intention of letting her go.


    He always found a way to drive away anyone who tried to help her.


    Bringing her here was the least of what he could do; if she resisted again, she dreaded to think where he might take her next.


    She would never let him find out about her illness.


    That was herst escape route—her final secret. If he discovered it, she''d lose even that.


    She walked back to the bedroom, crawled under the covers, and turned her face to the wall.


    Timothy followed, crouched beside the bed, and whispered, "Come on, sweetheart. Let''s go to the hospital, okay?"


    Jessica didn''t move a muscle.


    He grew anxious but forced himself to stay calm, coaxing her gently, "I know you''re upset with me right now-angry, even. But you can''t ignore your health. You''re coughing up blood. We have to see a doctor."


    Atst, Jessica rolled over and signed at him, her gestures sharp: "Why do you think I''m coughing up blood? Don''t you know?"


    A pang of shame twisted in Timothy''s chest.


    If she went to the hospital with him, they might find out about her cancer.


    She had no choice but to pin the me on him.


    Timothy''s handsome features tightened with remorse.


    After a pause, his voice hoarse, he said, "If you really don''t want to go to the hospital, at least eat something."


    Jessica pointed to her throat and signed, her movements weak: "It hurts. I can''t eat."


    She pulled her hand back under the nket and turned away again.


    Timothy flinched.


    Remembering what he''d done, he couldn''t bring himself to push her further.


    But she refused both food and medical help—this couldn''t go on.


    Afraid to upset her, he quietly stepped out of the room.


    Jessica heard Timothy murmuring into his phone in the hallway.


    She reached for her own phone, quickly sending Phelps all the documentation she''d prepared for the women''s shelter and disability services, including her medical reports.


    *I want a divorce from Timothy. He refuses and keeps haunting me. If your family can''t convince him to let me go, I have no choice but to take this evidence to the police. I''m disabled, and thew won''t go easy on him. If this blows up, you know better than anyone what it could do to the Lawson Group''s reputation!*


    She didn''t have time to keep fighting this in circles with Timothy.


    He''d find somewyer to wriggle out


    of it;


    while, his attorneys would baie


    es e 3 even if he was detained for &


    in


    no time.


    Her time was running out-five weeks had already passed since her diagnosis.


    All she wanted now was the fastest way out.


    Phelps nearly fainted when Jessica''s message came through.


    Timothy did this to her? Was that really necessary?


    If Timothy wanted something and Jessica refused, what, he couldn''t find another woman elsewhere?


    Jessica couldn''t even speak-why force her like that? Did Timothy have some twisted attraction?


    Phelps couldn''t think of another exnation.


    But this was too serious to ignore.


    He copsed into his chair, stunned.